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Green light on plans for Victory Park play space

Wednesday 23 May 2018

The playground in Castlemaine’s Victory Park is set to be replaced with a fun and accessible play space for everyone to enjoy.

Mount Alexander Shire Council last night approved the plans for a play space where families and children of all ages and abilities can play together.

The play space will include a zip line and rock climbing boulders for those that like to scramble and scale heights, and a ping pong table to test those reflexes.

There will be a babel drum to enable children to experiment with mesmerising sounds, along with a basket swing and an accessible wheel chair carousel.

The size of the play space will increase so there will be plenty of room for everyone to play among nature inspired features like logs, pebbles, a refuge cubby and dry creek bed, as well as indigenous art.

“Victory Park is one of our most popular parks,” said Cr Bronwen Machin, Mayor of Mount Alexander Shire.

“The park attracts many local families as well as visitors that come from far and wide so it’s important we have a central place where people of all ages can play and connect.

“We also feel the design lends well to heritage of the park and our region, and delivers on the recommendations of the Conservation Management Plan for Victory Park,” she said.

Part of the boundary will constructed in steel to replicate the original park fencing, along with traditional hedges along the fence line.

Staff consulted with the community to develop the design through surveys, and seeking input on mood boards and design ideas at listening posts and a pop up play space. The team consulted families at local kindergartens, as well as local organisations like Nalderun and Windarring to gain their advice.

Council is now working with the designers to finalise the detailed plans for public tender in June. Construction is expected to start in September.

The play space is estimated to cost $326,000 to build. Council has allocated funds in the budget for the year ahead, and the Victorian State Government will contribute $89,250.

Council has applied for more funds from the Australian Government and Variety Club, and is seeking contributions from community groups to help fund the accessible carousel.

Image: Artist's concept for the play space at Victory Park in Castlemaine.